Service or Sales

Here is an anecdotal experience from a Christian bookstore that illustrates the commercial nature of Bible sales.

Several years ago, I was looking for a Bible to give someone as a gift. I knew what I wanted. I told the sales clerk specifically what I wanted. He did not have that. He kept trying to sell me anything he had that he thought was close and did not want to take “no” for an answer. Now this sales clerk may be a fine person. I did not know him from Adam, as they say. However, he was trying to make a sale, whether he was a “natural-born salesman” or following his training. He was not trying to serve the customer. The bottom line was the bottom line.